The Palmers Rapids Weekend- May 26-27
The club holds 4 events during the paddling season, starting off with the Palmer Rapids weekend. The other events can be found on the club's website at
http://cdb-ottawa.com/eventsevenements/ Located just west of the small town of Palmer Rapids, on the Madawaska river providing a wonderful opportunity to practice river skills on a short Class II/III section of the river. Great event for friends, families, novices and anybody that likes to get out on the river. The club weekend takes place at Jessups campground. Come up for the day or stay for the weekend.
Some folks make a weekend of camping and arrive Friday evening, while others arrive sometime during the morning on Saturday. The group normally does some warm up at Palmer Rapids on Saturday and then run the Lower Madawaska on Sunday. On Saturday, there are various activities occur such as rolling practice, basic river running skills, and possibly some playboating tips from some of the more skilled folks.
There could also be a rope throwing competition, smore eating contest, beer drinking and/or bug swatting in the evening.
Directions and River description:
For those unfamiliar with the Lower Madawaska or how to get there, Whitewater Ontario has developed a "Riverpedia" on many Ontario rivers. And guess what, that site is now offline and being rebuilt:
http://www.whitewaterontario.ca/rivers/index.php/Category:RiversAfter a bit of sleuthing I have come up with their earlier cached information. You will find the general description of the Lower Madawaska and Palmer Rapids here:
https://web.archive.org/web/20170907200555/http://www.whitewaterontario.ca:80/rivers/index.php/Madawaska_River_Lowerand a google map with Jessops campground, put-ins and take-outs labelled here:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1MXpF0DwgVLT8y1iF-i496VEyn8k&ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=45.25035860302082%2C-77.32014655554201&spn=0.02762%2C0.027895&t=h&z=13&iwloc=0004a1273c84c52ea3014For those of you who have not been to Jessop's campground - once you get there - just go straight - we try to camp to the left of the meadow - so don't turn into the big area on the right - just go straight - you will see the big field and there will be outhouses up near the back - stick to that area just up from the beach on the camping "tiers" but not as far as the outhouses. Camping fee: approx. $15/night and firewood ~ $5. Bring cash. Mr. Jessop's prices vary depending on how many people you stuff in your tent.
The other important item to bring is a roll of toilet paper ... the outhouses are not stocked.
On Sunday, some folks stay at Palmer but most folks run the Lower Madawaska, from Aumonds to Buck Bay
For those that want to run the river meet at the Putin at 10:15 am.
Google maps/GPS co-ordinates for the put-in: 45.267949, -77.378991
(turn off at Hyland Creek Rd 45.261826, -77.367184 about 7 km from Quadeville chip truck))
From the campground we set up a convoy, but you should have general directions of where to go.
Bugs, Bugs, Bugs
You have been warned. There will be bugs of all sorts and sizes willing to take the place of a Red Cross blood donor clinic...
Bring adequate bug gear.
Road conditions for Lower Madawaska
Actually the access roads are quite good since they have been repaired, but with the flooding this year, we have no idea whats going on.
To summarize:
River: Class II/III
Road conditions: Class III/III+
Bugs: Class IV/V
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